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John Deere 690DR Excavator Right side propel problem

gdoc7112

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2019
Messages
11
Location
Harrisburg Pa
Hello all,
Just started to have a problem with right side drive on a early 1990's John Deere 690 DR rubber tire excavator with 600 hours. Looking for any info on possible causes or direction to go toward locating the issue.
What it's doing.... Left side moves normally, right side when moving the right control forward or reverse you can hear the engine RPM lower, can hear a change in hydraulic pump noise. The tires look like they try to move but do not. When the control is moved to either direction the dozer blade will drift down at same time. As soon as the control returns to nutural the drift stops. I Tried to move the right tires using the boom and pushing the unit and activating the control at same time and the tires just skid and do not turn.
It did work normally, this just started after digging in one location for a large dig out for a couple of days.
I have the service manual and have been studying it but wanted to reach out to someone who may have experience with these excavators.
I'm a retired auto mechanic so I do have general mechanical experience just not on this.
The excavator is owned and used on a large sportsman's club in Harrisburg Pa.
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide!!
Jerry Dougherty
President,
Harrisburg Hunters and Anglers Assoc.
 

jonno634

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2018
Messages
141
Location
Garfield, WA
Occupation
Farmer
Welcome to the Forum.

If u lift the tires off the ground, will they propel? Does the blade only drift when you activate the right control? Does it only drift down moving the right control in one of the directions directions? I’d guess issues in the swivel and getting cross over flow, but others probably have better guesses as I haven’t ever been around a 690DR.
 

gdoc7112

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2019
Messages
11
Location
Harrisburg Pa
Thanks for responding!!!
I need to get it away from the garage so I can swing it to the right and lift the right side. Blade drops in both directions.
 

mg2361

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2016
Messages
5,057
Location
Pennsylvania
Occupation
Equipment Mechanic
I’d guess issues in the swivel and getting cross over flow

Welcome to HEF gdoc;)! I have to agree with jonno. It does sound like a rotary manifold issue if your blade moves with either forward or reverse travel.
 

gdoc7112

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2019
Messages
11
Location
Harrisburg Pa
Thanks for the welcome!!
I was able to raise the right side wheels and they do not move at all either forward or reverse.
When pushing the unit with all wheels on ground and both foot controls actuated in the direction the right wheels drag on ground.

Is it possible the brake will not release on the right side???
 

jonno634

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2018
Messages
141
Location
Garfield, WA
Occupation
Farmer
As I am not familiar with that machine and wheels, I’d say check the brakes out. But the blade dropping could be the brake release line crossing over in the swivel also.
 

jonno634

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2018
Messages
141
Location
Garfield, WA
Occupation
Farmer
You could try, if you know which line is the brake release at the wheel motor, remove the line, CAP the one from the machine, and put a Porta power or aux hyd line to the brake release and see if you can release the brake and if it will turn. I thought about this a little more, and would assume its 1 brake release line for both sides, that being the case, not sure why half would release.... but I have seen stranger things.
 

gdoc7112

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2019
Messages
11
Location
Harrisburg Pa
I do know which line it is as there are one for each side. I will try that. Thank you very much. Ill post results but I need to locate a Portapower
 

gdoc7112

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2019
Messages
11
Location
Harrisburg Pa
You could try, if you know which line is the brake release at the wheel motor, remove the line, CAP the one from the machine, and put a Porta power or aux hyd line to the brake release and see if you can release the brake and if it will turn. I thought about this a little more, and would assume its 1 brake release line for both sides, that being the case, not sure why half would release.... but I have seen stranger things.
Hello Joe,
I hooked up a portapower to the right brake assembly and now I can move it. I can't thank you enough for your help and incite. Now that I can move it I will wait till spring and warmer weather to further diagnose the problem. The one part I can not find is the
 

gdoc7112

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2019
Messages
11
Location
Harrisburg Pa
Hello Joe,
I hooked up a portapower to the right brake assembly and now I can move it. I can't thank you enough for your help and incite. Now that I can move it I will wait till spring and warmer weather to further diagnose the problem. The one part I can not find is the
brake timer. So I still have some work to do>>>Thanks again
 

gdoc7112

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2019
Messages
11
Location
Harrisburg Pa
Thank you everyone!!!
I just solved my issue with the 690d right drive not turning after a lot of reading and testing. Put a portapower on the right brake unit and It moved so I know I was going in the right direction. The manual did not describe everything very well. Like where and what is the brake timer unit as it controlled the solenoid that went to the right brake unit. . Anyway I found a box with wires coming out of it and two GM type connectors on it. Since the book did not show a pic of it or say where it was I guessed when I found a box mounted to the outside of the console. Opened one connector and all looked ok inside but the other connector on the side with female metal connectors was ok but the other half where the male pins were there was one female pin, so there was two female connectors butting together. They must of separated thru vibration of using the machine. I was just able to verify the fix today!! It works!!! after I replaced the female connector with a male. How and why will forever be a mystery!!
 
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